Apparatus for the distillation of coal and the recovery of the products.



R. S. RICHARDS & R. W. PRINGLE.

APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION 0F GOAL AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PRODUCTS.

. A PPLIOATION FILED JUNE 10,1910.

974,91 9. Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

R. S. RICHARDS & R. W. PRINGLE.

AIPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF GOAL AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1910 974,91 9. Patented Nov. s, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED sTA'rps PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD SLOANE RICHARDS, OF WRAYSTBURY, AND ROBERT WILLIAM PRINGLE, OF

. RICHMOND, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF COAL AND THE.RECOVERY OF THE PRODUCTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I atented Nov. 8, 1910.

Application filed June 10, 1910. Serial No. 566,201.

recovery of the products, and its object is to provide apparatus whereby this maybe effected automatically and continuously, and

whereby disadvantages previously experienced may be avoided.

According to this invention we employ in a form of mufile furnace, horizontal or inclined, an endless conveyer, which consists of a continuous series of trays openended or otherwise, attached to a chain or chains forming 'an endless band or like device. This endless conveyer is caused to travel slowly by mechanical means. The upper stretch of the conveyer passes through a distilling chamber closely enveloping theband, which chamber is enveloped on all sides by a heating flue of fines or is sandwiched between upper and lower heating fines, the arrangement being such that the upper stretch of the conveyer travels slowly through the distilling chamber surrounded by or sandwiched between flues .while on the return journey the conveyor does not through the distilling chamber. The w ole apparatus at the same time being inclosed for the purpose of excluding air. The coal while it is on the conveyer is thus. heated efficiently as it trayelsthrough the distilling chamber, between or within the said flue or fines, hereinafter called the enveloping flue or iiues; the band on the other hand is only subjected to the high temperature of the fine while passing through the distilling chamber.

The traveling bands or conveyers are formed with open trays, 0r molds or boxes open on one side, or molds or boxes automatically closed after having been filled.

suflicient apertures being provided for the escape of tie gases or other by-products.

The distilling chamber may be constructed of any suitable material, but it is preferably ass of boiler plate -or other good conductor. The coal is fed in a layer to the upper stretch of the conveye'r at one end and the residual-product is discharged at the other en Thedistilli'ng chamber may be provided with a series of" plates or webs attached to its wall or walls and extending to within a short distance of the coal or conveyer or the bottom ofthe trays, so as to conduct and distribute the heat to the coal thereon, or the pans may be provided with longitudinal partitions .to effect the same object.

A number of endless conveyors may be arranged in relation with a plurality of flues as described-and be superimposed so that the coal can be fed simultaneously to the upper stretch of each conveyer by a separate hopper orchute. or the arrangement maybe such that the product discharged fromaone conveyer falling on to the upper stretch of' that beneath is carried through the distilling chamberthereof and so on throughout the series or as required. The distilling'ehamber or chambers is or are heated by producer gas or other gaseous or liquid fuel or the products of combustion of solid fuel, burned in the enveloping flue or in flues connected therewith. Gas ob tained from the distillation may be used for this purpose. Each distilling chamber may be disposed between upper and lower fines. which extend also around the sides of the distilling chamber, and the heating gas may be introduced into the heating fine or flues from a .combustion chamber at the side of the furnace, or the flue itself may form the combustion chamber. v

Ascension "pipes leading to a hydraulic main will usually be arranged for collecting- -the volatile products from the' distilling chamber or chambers.

The coal is fed to the conveyer or conveyers by a'v hopper or hoppers, the feed from which may be regulated by a revolving drum or other suitable device arrangedso as to secure an air seal. 1

The apparatus preferably comprises a cooling chamber' containing a traveling band, on to which the product is discharged from the conveyer or conveyers and whereon it is cooled to a suitable temperature before it is allowed to collie into contact with the air; By this means also'the necessity for quenching with steam or water may be dispensed with and the heat of the cooling product utilized. \Vith the latter object the cooling band might be inclosed in a sheetiron or other chamber provided with radiators so arranged that the product would lose its heat as rapidly as possible, and the cooling chamber might be combined with fines through which the air or the gas for the heating of the furnace may pass so as to regenerate the air or gas by the heat of the cooling product.

The cooling band may deliver the product direct or by an elevator to storage hoppers in which it is further cooled. The hopper or hoppers which feed the conveyer or conveyers and also the cooling band and elevator should be closed so that air cannot enter the apparatus. In any case care must be taken to exclude air from the distilling chamber or chambers.

We may construct the enveloping flue or flues of metal preferably cased with slag Wool or other non-conductor, so as to concontrate the heat of the flue or tines upon the distilling chamber within'or between the same and to reduce radiation of the heat from the outer sides of the fine.

According to a particular form of the invention we also construct the enveloping flue or fines in such a manner as to be independent of the masonry of the furnace, so that the said flue or fines are free to expand and contract with varying temperature. With this object we make the enveloping fine or fiues, together with the distilling chamber, as a separate structure. The structure may be supported upon rollers in sucha way that it can be run bodily out of the furnace, together with the distilling chamber, for re pairs or other purposes.

It will be understood that in cases where a number of endless conveyers are employed in one furnace the enveloping fiue or fines of each distilling chamber may be constructed and-arranged in the manner just described.

I apparatus constructed in accordance therewith; reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which,-

Figures 1, 1 are a diagrammatic longitudinal section of the apparatus; Fig. 2 a cross section on A--A, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a cross section on a larger scale through the self-contained retort formed by the distilling chamber and its heating flues.

1 represents a structure of masonry in the up er 'chamber 2 of which is mounted an en less conveyer 3 consisting of open-ended and open topped trays 3 overlappin each other at the ends and preferably divided into a transverse series of channel-shaped compartments as shown by webs or plates 3 7 serving t sub-divide the charge and distribute the heat through same. The trays are carried by a chain or chains passing around chain wheels 4:, eland the links 5 of the chain have lateral supporting arms 5 for the trays. The upper stretch of the conveyer passes through to the distilling chamher 6 which has rails 7 011 which the arms 5 travel and the under stretch of the conveyer returns outside the distilling chamber 6. This latter is enveloped by a heating flue 8 which, together with the distilling chamber 6, forms a separate-and independent structure or self-contained retort mounted on wheels 9 and capable of being run into and out of the upper chamber 2 upon rails 10, the ends of this chamber being provided for the purpose with doors or covers 11 lined with refractory material. The distilling chamber 6 and heating flue S are constructed of boiler plate and the outer walls of the heating line are all lined with refractory material 12. The rails 7 for supporting the endless conveyer are supported on corbels 7 disposed at intervals in the flue 8. The

or other gas burned in the enveloping flue 8 and admitted to burners 13 at the far end of the flue 8 by a pipe or pipes 14 the necessary air being supplied by a pipe or pipes 15. travelin through the distilling chamber is subjected to a progressively increasing temperature as it proceeds. The waste heating gases pass away from the end of the fine 8 by a pipe 16 to a waste heat main 1? and can be utilized for generating steam for the gas producer from which the burners 13 are supplied, or for any other purpose. Pipes 18 open at intervals into the distilling cham: her and through the top of the enveloping flue 8 for the escape of the distillation products, which are led away by rising pipes 19 from the top of the chamber 2 to hydraulic mains 19 connected to foul mains 19".

The coal is fed continuously to the trays of the conveyer 3, by a hopper 20, and the feed is regulated by a revolving drum 21 arranged to prevent the access of air to the chamber 2. The coal is supplied to the drum 21 by a screw conveyer or other means.

The endless conveyer is driven by any suit-able means so as to carry the coal slowly thrt-ugh the distilling chamber.

The upper chamber 2 communicates with a lower cooling chamber 22 by a hopper like passage 23 which may extend for the whole length of the upper chamber.

24 is an endless cooling band formed of open ended and open topped trays mounted on chains or otherwise and supported in its travel on rails 24*. The material discharges from the endless conveyer 3 at the delivery end thereof drops into the trays of the cooling conveyer 24 which carries it slowly through the cooling chamber and delivers it "ith this arrangement the material lit through a double door discharge outlet 25 into trucks or otherwise.

. 26 is a door for giving access to the coolmgiconveyer 24. The entire structure must 1 be carefully shut off from the air.

In apparatus constructed as illustrated it will be seen that the muflie furnace proper is constituted by the self-contained retort structure.

may be arranged to run transversely to the:

distilling conveyers at their discharge end, so as to receive the product from some or all of them.

It will be understood generally that the apparatus can be constructed in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

WVhatwe claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of'coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, a heating flue system enveloping the same. an endless convey-er whereof the upper stretch is closely enveloped by and adapted to travel through said distilling chamber and whereof the lower stretch is outside said heating flue system, means for imparting traveling motion to the conveyor, means for supplying coal to the upper stretchof the conveyer and an inclosing structure for the apparatus, adapted to exclude the air substantially-as described.

2. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, a heating, flue system enveloping the same, an endless conveyer whereof. the upper stretch is closely cnvelo ed by and adapted to travel through said istilling chamber and whereof the lower stretch is outside said heating fiue sys tem, means for imparting traveling motion to the conveyer, means for supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, an inclosing structure adapted to exclude the air,

and means for carrying away and collecting the gaseous distillation products evolved, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, 'a heating flue system enveloping the same, an endless conveyer whereof the upper stretchis closely enveloped by and adapted to travel through said distilling chamber and whereof the lower stretch is outsidc'said heating flue sysstem, means for impartin traveling motion to the conveyer, means or supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, and an inclosing structure for. the apparatus adapted to exclude the air, said distilling chamber and its heating flue system being an independent metal structure adapted to be run'into and out of the inclosing structure,

- substantially as described.

4. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, a heating flue system enveloping the same, an endless conveyer whereof the upper stretch is closely enveloped by and adapted to travel through said distilling chamber and whereof the lower stretch is outside'said heating flue system, means for imparting traveling motion to the conveyer, means for supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, and an inclosing structure for the apparatus adapted to exclude the air, said distilling chamber and its heating flue system being' an independent metal structure lined with refractorymaterial, adapted to be run into and out of the inclosing structure, substantially as described.

5.,Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillationof coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, aheating flue systenr enveloping the same. an endless conveyer whereofthe upper stretch is'closely enveloped by and adapted to travel through said distilling chamber and whereof the lower stretch is outside said heating flue system. said conveyer consisting of open trays. means for imparting traveling motion to the conveyer, means for supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, and an inclosing structure for the'apparatus adapted to exclude the air, substantially as described.

- 6. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, a heating flue system enveloping the same,'an endless conveyer whereof the upper stretch is closely enveloped by and adapted to travel through said distillin chamber and whereof the lower stretch is outside said heating fluesystem, said conveyer consisting of open-ended trays of channel sec'tionadapted to overlap each other at the ends, means for imparting traveling'motion to the conveyer, means for supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, and an inclosing structure for the apparatus adapted to exclude the air, substantially as described.

7. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of coal, comprising in combination a distillingchamber, a heating flue system enveloping the same, an endless conveyer whereof the upper stretch is closely enveloped by and adapted to travel through said distilling chamber and whereof the lower stretch is outside said heating flue system, means for imparting traveling motion to the conveyer, means for supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, metal heat .stantially as described.

distributers adapted to extend into the charge on the conveyer in the distilling chamber and an inclosing structure for the apparatus adapted to exclude the air sub- 8. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of coal, comprising in adapted to exclude the air, substantially as described.

9. Apparatus for the partial carbonization and distillation of coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, a heating flue system enveloping the same, an endless conveyer whereof the upper stretch is closely envelo ed by and adapted to travel throu h said istilling chamber and whereof t e lower stretch 1s outside said heating flue s stem, said conveyer consisting of open en ed trays of channel section-adapted to overlap each other at the ends, a chain on which said trays are mounted, supporting arms on the scribi chain links for said trays, rails in the distilling chamber whereon said sup orting arms are ada ted to travel, means or imparting trave ing motion to the conveyer, means for supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, and an inclosing structure for the ap aratus adapted to exclude the air, substantially as described.

10. A paratus for the partial carbonization an distillation of coal, comprising in combination a distilling chamber, a heating flue system enveloping the same, an endless conveyer whereof the upper stretch is closely enveloped by and ada ted to travel throu h said distilling cham er and whereof t e lower stretch is outside said heating flue system, means for imparting traveling motion to the conveyer, means for supplying coal to the upper stretch of the conveyer, an endless cooling band adapted to receive theproduct vdischarged from the distilling conveyer, a

cooling chamber, means for traveling said cooling band slowly through the cooling chamber, and an inclosing structure for the apparatus adapted to exclude the air substantially as described.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subwitnesses.

R CHARD SLOANE RICHARDS.

ROBERT WILLIAM PRINGLE. Witnesses:

SIDNEY HABERT DONALDSON, ROBERT MILTON SPEARPOINT. 

